Seen, Heard, Strengthened.

7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 
Exodus 3:7-10, NLT


In Exodus 3, God shows us (and Moses) that he sees the pain and oppression of his people. He says in verse 8, "Yes, I am aware of their suffering." He also said that the sees the harsh abuse. This is comforting to me. I knew that God saw my pain too. Conceptually, this was already in my head, but to read it in the Word, to see it written out as truth was heart-strengthening. 

It reminds me that our unchanging God who saw the oppression, suffering, and abuse of the people of Israel sees the oppression, suffering, and abuse in the world today. Furthermore, he sees those same things in my community here in Springfield, and even those things in my life that cause me pain and suffering.

Reading that this morning was especially meaningful. Last night, I was feeling some deep, emotional pain. I prayed with a friend because I hardly had the strength in that moment to pray for myself (sometimes it helps to combine your faith with a friend who can help you come before the Lord in those especially weak moments). I was sure that God would come and dwell in me, and prayed he would help me navigate and help me process through the pain. I was reassured just enough to sleep through the night, and by the goodness of God was comforted by just what I needed this morning.

Reassured in His Word.
Clear as day.
In faith, I believed and held on to what I knew in my heart, like what Psalm 119:11 says to do when we store up the good things in our heart about God. The past faithfulness of God helped me lean into a hopeful and God-enriched future mindset.

And, in writing (which is a form of communication that especially speaks to me), I read for myself how an unchanging God has seen and delivered and cared for his hurting people.

Y'all God is marvelous!

So today, I am particularly grateful for a God who communes with us, whether a season of pain or jubilee. He is with you. He wants to reassure you. And he wants to strengthen your heart.

Blessings, 
Melly XOXO

Dear God, thank you for friends. Thank you for seeing me today. For comforting my heart, and for strengthening it. You really are an awesome God. <3